Tips for Improving Fitness for the New Year

Ah, the holidays. It’s that time of year when we all overindulge with the intent to get healthier the moment the calendar flips to the start of the New Year. But, the New Year will be here before you know it, so now makes for the perfect time to start thinking about your plans for fitness in the New Year.

At Davis Community, we provide state-of-the-art exercise and rehabilitation in Wilmington NC for seniors, so we know a little bit about helping seniors achieve and maintain optimum health. Here are a few tried and true tips to help you start your New Year fitness plans off right.

What Kind of Fitness Do You Want to Improve?

For seniors, there are three areas of fitness that need to be focused on for maintaining their best health – flexibility, muscle strength, and aerobic fitness. Some seniors need to improve one area while others may need to work on all three.

If you want to strengthen your cardiovascular system, then aerobic exercise is what you will want to focus on. These activities include walking, swimming, cycling, and running.

If you want to improve muscle strength, lifting light weights and doing push-ups will help you build stronger muscles and bones.

Or, if you want to improve your flexibility, then doing light to moderate stretching exercises will help improve your range of motion and the overall quality of your joints.

How Best to Implement Your New Fitness Plan in the New Year

It’s not easy implementing a fitness plan, but the New Year makes for the perfect time to start your new routine of health and wellness. Here are some tips to help you get started.

1. Do something physical every day – Whether you use the stairs instead of the elevator or you walk to the store instead of driving, start doing something physical on a daily basis.
2. Find an exercise partner – Implementing a healthy lifestyle is easier when you are doing it with a partner. Whether you attend a group exercise class or you simply go for a daily walk, having someone to go with you not only makes it more enjoyable, but you will both feel a responsibility to the other to keep going.
3. Choose an activity you enjoy – If you enjoy stretching but you don’t like doing push-ups, then start your exercise routine by sticking with the activities you like doing most. Eventually you will want to branch out and try new things, but the important thing is to get started first.

Before starting any exercise routine, be sure to discuss your plans with your physician. They will be able to help you choose the right exercises for your unique needs.

How to Turn Your New Year’s Resolution into a Habit

Historically, few New Year’s resolutions ever make it into February. Those resolutions promising to live a healthier lifestyle are among the first to fail. So, how can you turn your New Year’s exercise resolution into a habit? Here are some tips.

• Set goals – When you start exercising, it is important to set short-term, achievable goals. For instance, if you want to increase your muscle strength, have an amount you want to be able to lift by a certain date in mind. Make sure it is obtainable and then work toward that goal. Once you reach it, set another goal to keep you motivated.
• Have a reason – Why do you want to get fit? Is it because you want to be able to see your grandchildren graduate? Is it because you want to get off of some of your medications? Having a reason is one of the most powerful tools for keeping up with your fitness goals.
• Have a backup plan – If you walk outside every day, it can be easy to stop after the first rainy day keeps you indoors. As a result, it is important to have a backup plan ready. For instance, you can visit Davis’ Rehabilitation Pavilion for indoor exercise activities.
• Change routines – If your activities are causing you to feel pain in certain parts of your body, then change your routine to focus on different muscle groups.
• Don’t be too hard on yourself – Adopting a healthy lifestyle is tough and you will probably have some slip ups along the way. But, don’t be too hard on yourself. Just pick your routine back up the next day and get back on track.

Rehabilitation in Wilmington NC is Available at Davis Community

At the Davis Community, we have a state-of-the-art rehabilitation pavilion where seniors can get the exercise they need to live healthier lifestyles and to recover from injuries or surgeries. Our rehabilitation pavilion is the centerpiece of our commitment to the outstanding health and vitality of each of our members. Contact Davis Community today at 910-686-7195 to schedule a visit or to learn more about our top-rated rehabilitation in Wilmington NC.